In 636 AD, after protracted skirmishing and minor engagements the Arab and Byzantine armies faced each other on the banks of the Yarmuk river. The Byzantines were initially successful, driving back the Arab right wing. Finally, though, the Arab counter-attacks broke the Byzantine lines and the subsequent pursuit became a rout. The awful fate of the fleeing Byzantine soldiers was remembered for several generations until it was recorded in early Islamic histories. David Nicolle not only looks at the battle itself but also the whole decisive Arab campaign - from the Muslim invasion of 633/4 to the fall of Byzantine Syria.
The battle of Yarmuk was the single most crushing blow suffered by the Byzantine Empire until the battle of Manzikert in 1071. It resulted in the loss of Syria, Palestine and most of the Byzantine provinces in the Middle East. In 636 AD, after protracted skirmishing and various minor engagements the Arab and Byzantine armies faced each other on the banks of the Yarmuk river. The Byzantines were initially successful, driving back the Arab right wing and attacking one of the camps containing the women and families. This attack was however repulsed, with the help of the Arab women, and further attacks were beaten off. Finally the Arab counter-attacks broke the Byzantine lines and the subsequent pursuit became a rout. The awful fate of the fleeing Byzantine soldiers was remembered for several generations until it was recorded in early Islamic histories. In this title, David Nicolle not only looks at the battle itself but also the whole decisive Arab campaign - from the Muslim invasion of 633/4 to the fall of Byzantine Syria. An analysis of the differing performances of the two armies at Yarmuk, and a look at the battlefield today completes this interesting examination of one of the key battles in the history of the Middle East.

Yarmuk ad 636: The Muslim Conquest of Syria (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

History

Nicolle, David

Middle East

Praeger Pub Text

Provides an insightful, yet concise, overview of ten major campaigns or battles of the period Praeger is pleased to announce a partnership with Osprey Publishing to make these unique books available to our customers. Now available in high-quality hardback volumes, this series provides insightful, yet concise, overviews of major battles. The books have been created to appeal to a wide range of interested readers, including students, amateur and professional military historians, period re-enactors - just about anybody who wants to learn more about these dramatic historical events. Battles of the Middle Ages provides a detailed history of ten major battles or campaigns that shaped medieval Europe and the Near East.

Battles of the Middle Ages: . (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

Gravett, Christopher

Bennett, Matthew

Turnbull, Stephen R.

Shpakovskii, Viacheslav Olegovich

Armstrong, Pete

Military

In 1187, Christian Europe was shaken by events in the Middle East. This volume tells the story of those momentous months - the campaign leading to the Muslim capture of Jerusalem after the disastrous Crusader defeat at Hattin where, in a two day running battle on the waterless plateau between Saffuriya and Tiberias, beneath a burning sun, Saladin's troops destroyed the Christian army. The disaster at Hattin resulted in the collapse of the kingdom of Jerusalem and sparked the Third Crusade under Richard I 'Coeur de Lion'. This book examines Hattin in detail and looks at the consequences of the battle.
The most decisive battle in the history of the crusades was fought on 3-4 July 1187 west of Tiberias in what is modern-day Israel. In the late twelfth century, however, this was part of the Christian kingdom of Jerusalem ruled by Guy of Lusgnan which was threatened by Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known to western historians as Saladin. He had invaded the kingdom of Jerusalem and laid siege to the city of Tiberias to draw the Christian army into battle. Raymond of Tripoli and Balian of Ibelin recommended that Tiberias, which Saladin could not hold for any length of time, be abandoned. Both these men were 'poulains', Franks born in the east who knew their enemy well and had a lifetime's experience of war in the Levant; indeed it was Raymond's wife Eschiva who was defending Tiberias. Their wiser council was rejected in favour of the advice of men like Reynald of Chatillon and Gerard de Ridefort to attack the Saracens. These men were western knights who despised the Franks of the east as effete and weak. Their experience of Levantine warfare was limited, however, and the campaign proved disastrous. In a running two day battle on the waterless plateau between Saffuriya and Tiberias, beneath a burning sun, Saladin's troops destroyed the Christian army. The disaster at Hattin resulted in the collapse of the kingdom of Jerusalem and sparked off the Third Crusade under Richard I 'Coeur de Lion'. This book examines Hattin in detail and looks at the consequences of the battle.

Hattin 1187: Saladin's Greatest Victory (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

Asia

The battle of Lake Peipus took place in 1242 between the Teutonic Knights and the Russian city-state of Novgorod, led by its inspirational leader Alexandre Nevskii. The Teutonic Knights were a powerful military order, backed with the crusading zeal of Europe, the blessing of the Pope and the support of the Holy Roman Emperor. This battle, although little-known in the west, was important in the history of the medieval eastern crusades, the Teutonic defeat having a serious effect on future events. David Nicolle's excellent text examines the Crusade against Novgorod and the fierce fighting around the frozen shores of Lake Peipus.The battle of Lake Peipus took place in 1242 between the Teutonic Knights and the Russian city-state of Novgorod, led by its inspirational leader Alexandre Nevskii. The Teutonic Knights were a powerful military order, backed with the crusading zeal of Europe, the blessing of the Pope, and the support of the Holy Roman Emperor. The clash of arms around the frozen shores of Lake Peipus was immortalised in Eisenstein's epic film 'Alexandre Nevskii'. This battle, although little-known in the west, was important in the history of the medieval eastern crusades. As a result of the Teutonic defeat at the battle not only were the Crusaders forced to give back all the lands they had conquered in their Crusade against Novgorod, but also their defeat led to a new relationship between Catholics and Orthodox in the Baltic, with a new Pope, Innocent IV, trying to win over the Russians diplomatically rather than by military means. Finally, the battle also convinced a chastened Bishop Hermann of Tartu to accept the Teutonic Knight's priorities, which were to crush the pagan Lithuanians and to Christianise all the Baltic lands, rather than interfering in Russian affairs. David Nicolle's excellent book looks at the battle in detail and examines the Crusade against Novgorod of which it was a part.

Lake Peipus 1242: Battle of the Ice (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

By the second half of the 14th century, the once mighty Byzantine Empire had been reduced to little more than the city of Constantinople. In 1391, the Ottoman ruler Sultan Bayazid I 'The Lightning' besieged the city. Pope Boniface IX preached a crusade and a French-led army of 10,000 marched east. At Nicopolis they met the Ottoman army in battle. Ignoring the advice of their Hungarian and Transylvanian allies the Crusaders charged the Turks and were in turn smashed by the Ottoman heavy cavalry. The last Crusade ended on the banks of the Danube as the Crusaders desperately sought to escape from the pursuing Turks.
The background to the Nicopolis Crusade can be found in the rapid spread of Ottoman Turkish conquests, particularly in the southern Balkans, during the second half of the 14th century. More specifically, it was the Ottoman threat to Hungary following the failure of a Hungarian uprising against Ottoman domination in Bulgaria that provoked action from its politically fragmented territories and the worried powers beyond. By this time, the once mighty Byzantine Empire had been reduced to little more than the city of Constantinople itself. In 1391 the Sultan Bayazid I 'The Lightning' besieged the city. Pope Boniface IX preached a crusade and a French-led army of 10,000 marched east. At Nicopolis on the Danube they met the Ottoman army in battle. Ignoring the advice of their Hungarian and Transylvanian allies the Crusaders charged the Turks and were in turn smashed by the Ottoman heavy cavalry. The last Crusade ended on the banks of the Danube as the Crusaders desperately sought to escape from the pursuing Turks. David Nicolle discusses this climax to the last great French-led crusade. Researched entirely from primary sources, much of the material in the book has never been published before.

Nicopolis 1396: The Last Crusade (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

The Battle of Crecy was the first major land battle of the Hundred Years War. It pitted the French army, then considered the best in Europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the English under King Edward III and the 'Black Prince'. The Genoese crossbowmen were outshot by the English longbows and the pattern was set for the rest of the day: the French cavalry were committed piecemeal in fruitless charges against strong English positions, losing perhaps 10,000 men in the course of the fighting. After almost a millennium in which cavalry had dominated the field of battle, the infantryman, and particularly the longbowman, now ruled supreme.The Battle of Crecy was the first major land battle of the Hundred Years War. It pitted the French army, then considered the best in Europe, and their miscellaneous allies against the English under King Edward III and the 'Black Prince', who as yet had no great military reputation; this was the battle where he 'won his spurs'. The Genoese crossbowmen were outshot by the English longbows and the pattern was set for the rest of the day: the French cavalry were committed piecemeal in fruitless charges against strong English positions, losing perhaps 10,000 men in the course of the fighting. After almost a millennium in which cavalry had dominated the field of battle, the infantryman, and particularly the longbowman, now ruled supreme. David Nicolle explores this first of the great 'Longbow' victories which established the reputation of this fearsome weapon.

Crecy 1346: Triumph of the Longbow (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

: In 1221, Genghiz, Great Khan of the Mongols, ordered an armed reconnaissance expedition into Russia commanded by Subodei Bahadur and Jebei Noyon 'The Arrow'. The consequences for the history of Europe were incalculable. The decisive Mongol victory at Kalka River opened up vast regions of Russia and Eastern Europe to Mongol conquest. Genghiz ordered his victorious army to return eastwards, delaying the final cataclysm by a few years. Genghiz died in 1227, but within 10 years his son Ogedei ordered a return to Russia to complete the conquest. This title details the events of the dramatic Kalka River campaign.In 1221, Genghiz, Great Khan of the Mongols, ordered an armed reconnaissance expedition into Russia commanded by Subodei Bahadur and Jebei Noyon 'The Arrow'. The consequences for the history of Europe were incalculable. The decisive Mongol victory at Kalka River, opened up vast regions of Russia and Eastern Europe to Mongol conquest. Genghiz ordered his victorious army to return eastwards, delaying the final cataclysm by a few years. Genghiz died in 1227, but within 10 years his son Ogedei ordered a return to Russia to complete the conquest. This title details the events of the dramatic Kalka River campaign.

Kalka River 1223: Genghiz Khan's Mongols Invade Russia (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

In 1095 the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I appealed to the Christian states of western Europe for help against the Turks who had swept across the Empire after the disastrous Byzantine defeat at Manzikert in 1071. This book is about the First Crusade that followed, which saw several armies of 'armed pilgrims' march across Europe to the Holy Land. They were unleashed on a divided and fragmented Islamic world and won a series of apparently miraculous victories, capturing the Holy City of Jerusalem itself. The success of the First Crusade was never to be repeated, however, and triggered two centuries of bitter warfare, the repercussions of which are still felt today.
In 1095 the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I appealed to the Christian states of Western Europe for help against the Turks who had swept across the Empire after the disastrous Byzantine defeat at Manzikert in 1071. This book is about the First Crusade that followed, and saw several armies of 'armed pilgrims' march across Europe to the Holy Land. They were unleashed on a divided and fragmented Islamic world and won a series of apparently miraculous victories, capturing the Holy City of Jerusalem itself. The success of the First Crusade was never to be repeated, however, and triggered two centuries of bitter warfare, the repercussions of which are still felt today. David Nicolle's book examines this watershed in the relationship of the Christian and Islamic worlds.

The First Crusade 1096-99: Conquest of the Holy Land (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used France's modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italy's medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles' army to a standstill.In the year 1495, Charles VIII was the youthful King of France, the most powerful state in medieval Europe. A dreamer who saw himself as the saviour of Christian Europe, he believed he could roll back the ever-spreading tide of Ottoman Turkish conquest. As a base for his crusade he was determined to seize southern Italy. In a lightning campaign he used France's modern army to sweep through Italy, his mobile field artillery train smashing into dust the tall towers of Italy's medieval castles. The Italian states rallied and at Fornovo their alliance, the League of Venice, fought Charles' army to a standstill. This campaign marked the coming of age of gunpowder weaponry, and the beginning of 30 years of bloody conflict - the Italian Wars. In this remarkable book David Nicolle details the French campaign leading up to Fornovo, the battle itself, and the aftermath. The leaders of both armies are examined as are their armies and plans, and this background information all greatly helps when the author finally comes to his close-up investigation of Fornovo. The different moves in the battle are looked at, as are significant events during it: notably Charles's near capture by a group of Milanese men-at-arms. The final section of the book deals with the end of the campaign, and France's withdrawal. David Nicolle's attention to detail, such as his mention of the capture of King Charles' book of pornographic pictures by the Italians at Fornovo, combined with his ability to see the broader picture of the Italian campaign itself, makes this an interesting and comprehensive volume.

Fornovo 1495: France's Bloody Fighting Retreat (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

Europe

By 1481 Granada was the last Islamic enclave in Catholic Spain. Granada's last ruler, Muhammad XII 'Boadbil', faced the might of a Spanish royal army revitalised and lavishly equipped with modern artillery. Despite this mismatch of strength it took 11 years of hard campaigning before the Spanish troops could bring their guns to bear on the walls of Granada. After this, the outcome could not be long delayed. Andalusia, the physical embodiment of the flowering Islamic culture in Spain, was snuffed out. The commanders, forces, plans and campaign itself are all examined closely in this superbly illustrated account of 'Los Reyes Catolicos' greatest victory.
By 1481 Granada was the last Islamic enclave in Catholic Spain. Granada's last ruler, Muhammad XII 'Boadbil', faced the might of a Spanish royal army revitalised and lavishly equipped with modern artillery. Despite this mismatch of strength it took 11 years of hard campaigning before the Spanish troops could bring their guns to bear on the walls of Granada. After this, the outcome could not be long delayed. Andalusia, the physical embodiment of the flowering Islamic culture in Spain, was snuffed out. Nevertheless, although the fall of Granada meant the end of Muslim Spain, completing the long wished for 'Reconquista', it also signalled the beginning of a united Spain. Fernando and Isabel, already jointly holding the crowns of Castile and Aragon, used the victory to promote feelings of unity amongst their subjects: in spite of most of the rewards of the campaign going to Castilian nobles, the fall of Granada was nevertheless the achievement of the whole of Spain, using resources from both Castile and Aragon. David Nicolle investigates the 11-year campaign that culminated in the 'Reconquista' phase of the Iberian Peninsula's history. The commanders, forces, plans and campaign itself are all examined closely in this superbly illustrated account of 'Los Reyes Catolicos' greatest victory.

Granada 1492: The Twilight of Moorish Spain (Praeger Illustrated Military History Series.)

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